Earlier this year, technicians from two of Duncan Aviation’s Satellites performed the preliminary installation work to help create an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) laying the ground work that will make Gogo’s 5G network accessible to passengers and crew aboard Learjet 40/45/70/75 aircraft. The project initially saw the installation of a Gogo AVANCE L5 on the Learjet, with provisions to upgrade to the Gogo AVANCE LX5 when it is available later this year.
The eventual upgrade from the L5 to the LX5 will allow the Wi-Fi system to take advantage of the greater speeds and bandwidth of Gogo’s 5G network. In the interim, the L5 gives passengers and crew access to Gogo’s 4G network. Earlier generations of the Gogo ATG (Air-To-Ground) network will be phased out in 2026, leaving aircraft that haven’t been upgraded from older ATG systems without internet connectivity.
The AVANCE L5, a speedy inflight connectivity option, has been available on large-capacity jets for several years now, and aircraft equipped with this connectivity option can take advantage of Gogo’s 4G network. Now, with the AVANCE LX5 upgrade, passengers and crew aboard mid-sized aircraft, such as the Learjet 75, will be able to achieve faster speeds, use more devices thanks to greater bandwidth, and enjoy streaming audio and video on their personal devices during flight.
Although developed by a third-party engineering firm, the licenses for the STC and the PMA installation kits for the AVANCE LX5, with some components manufactured by DMS (Duncan Manufacturing Solutions), are available through Duncan Aviation.
In order for the Learjet models to connect to Gogo’s 4G network, our Satellite technicians initially installed new wiring and prepped the Learjet for the upgrade from its current ATG system to the AVANCE L5 in Denver. The customer then flew the Learjet to its home in Birmingham, Alabama, and several avionics technicians from the Duncan Aviation Satellite in Atlanta and one from Denver traveled to the customer’s hangar to complete the next phase of the installation.
“This was a great project for our avionics techs to grow as a team, and it also helped underscore for our customer just how much work goes into completing a project like this. We were in their hangar on the airport, which meant they had to be there when our technicians were there,” says Manager of the Atlanta Satellite Erwin Carrillo. “While our avionics technicians worked, the customers followed along, asking questions and observing just how intricate and involved the entire installation process was. They were also extremely pleased with what they saw and provided positive feedback about the experience.”
The final phases will also be completed at the customer’s hangar in Birmingham. When the STC received final FAA approval, the technicians installed the MB13 antennas, switched on the AVANCE L5, and performed all of the necessary ground and flight tests.
Once the Gogo AVANCE LX5 system is available later this year, Duncan Aviation avionics technicians will again travel to Birmingham where they’ll swap out the AVANCE L5 LRU (Line Replaceable Unit) for the new AVANCE LX5 LRU, turn on the system, and perform the necessary tests.
“After completion of the second phase of the AVANCE LX5 STC installation at our hangar in Birmingham, we were impressed with every member of the team who worked on the project here, and who traveled from both Colorado and Atlanta. In particular, the work ethic, drive, and professionalism displayed by those four technicians throughout the three-plus weeks of working on an out-of-town project was apparent to every member of my team. We look forward to the final phases of this project as it’s completed by this impressive team. Additionally, I would not hesitate to utilize the Duncan Aviation Satellite team in Atlanta for any future projects that we may need, both on our Learjet 75 or on any future airframe we may operate,” says Chief Pilot Paul Roddy and Supervisor of Maintenance Scott Swisher.